Tape and label dispenser



Oct. 22, 1963 J. AUGER ETAL TAPE AND LABEL DISPENSER Filed Feb. 27, 1961FIG-l Jam, fil mfioagm w BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice3,197,814 Patented Get. 22, 1963 3,197,814 TAPE AND LABEL DKSPENSERJoseph Auger, Hartford, and Leo J. Bisson, Windsor, Conn, assignors toHartford Tape 8; Label Inn, East Hartford, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,766 3 Claims. (Cl. 221-73)This invent-ion relates to a device for dispensing pressure sensitivelabels or the like from a roll of tape to which the labels are adheredin end-to-end relation, and deals more particularly with such adispensing device which includes an improved means for stripping thelabels in succession from the tape as the tape and labels are pulledfrom the supply roll.

The general object of this invention is to provide a tape and labeldispenser which is of a simple low-cost construction and which isconvenient and easy to use for the purpose of supplying the user withpressure sensitive labels for marking or pricing goods or for any otherpurpose for which such labels may be put.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tape and labeldispenser wherein the tape and labels as they are pulled from the supplyroll pass over a fiat area which supports the tape and labels to allowthe labels to be marked before the latter are stripped from the tape andapplied to the goods.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmeans for stripping or peeling pressure seu sitive labels or the likefrom a backing strip to which the labels are adhered prior to their use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedrawing and from the following description.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, looking generally toward the front andleft-hand side, of a tape dispenser embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the tape dispenser of FIG. 1showing the manner in which the roll supporting members are secured tothe base member.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown a tape dispenser embodying the present invention. Thepurpose of the dispenser 10 is to supply the user with labels which arefirst marked with prices and/or other information and thereafter appliedto goods of various descriptions. The labels in question are of the typewhich are provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to onesurface thereof so that the labels may be adhered without moistening toalmost any clean, dry surface. For convenience in storing anddispensing, these labels are in some cases adhered in end-to-end fashionto a long backing strip or tape. The backing tape with the labelsapplied thereto is then wound into a roll and as the labels are neededthe tape is unwound from the roll and the labels peeled from the tapefor application to the goods to be marked. The tape material and thelabel adhesive are selected so that the labels may be relatively easilypeeled or stripped from the backing tape without tearing the labels.Various suitable combinations of adhesive and tape material are wellknown in the art and are conventional so as to require no furtherdescription here.

Labels as above referred to are shown at 12, 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Theselabels are in turn adhered in end-to-end fashion to a backing tape 14which is wound into a supply roll 16. In the illustrated case the tapeis wound so that the labels face inwardly toward the center of the roll,but this is not essential and the tape dispenser 10 may also be usedwith supply rolls Wound with the labels facing outwardly.

According to the invention, the tape and label dispenser broadlycomprises a means for supporting a supply roll such as shown at 16, ameans for stripping labels from the backing tape as the tape is pulledfrom the roll, a means for supporting an extent of the tape to permitmarking of the labels thereon pnior to being stripped from the tape, anda means for guiding the tape and labels for movement from the supplyroll and over said supporting means before reaching said strippingmeans. In some cases, however, the labels may be pro-marked so as torequire no further marking as they are taken from the supply roll.Therefore, to handle rolls of such pro-marked labels the aforesaid meansfor supporting the tape and labels for marking and the guide means maybe omitted from the dispenser so that the tape is fed directly from thesupply roll to the label stripping means.

In the illustrated dispenser 10 the means for supporting the supply roll16 comprises two upright members 18, 18 which are fixed to the rear endportion of a longitudinally extending base member 20. The two members18, 18 are made of flat sheet material and are spaced apart in parallelrelationship transversely of the base 20'. It is contemplated that theupright roll supporting members 13, 18 may be secured to the base 20 byvarious suitable means. For the purpose of illustration, however, FIG. 3shows each of the members 18, 18 as having two tabs 21, 21 along itsbottom edge, which tabs extend through corresponding openings in thebase member 20. The tabs 2il, 21 are bent at right angles to the bodiesof the members 18, 18 to bring the same into engagement with the bottomsurface of the base 20, and they are fixed to the base member bysuitable means such as spotwelding. For the purpose of protecting thesurface on which the tape and label dispenser 1G is placed, the basemember 20 is preferably provided with pads 22, 22 of felt, cork or thelike soured to its bottom surface as shown in FIG. 2.

At its upper end portion, each of the members 18, 18 is provided with agenerally downwardly and forwardly extending slot 19 for receiving aspool 23. The spool 23 in turn has an enlarged diameter center portion24- which fits the center opening in the supply roll 16 and two reduceddiameter portions or trunnions 26 which are located one on either end ofthe center pontion 24 and which are received by the slots 19, 19'. Thisslot and spool arrangement facilitates the removal of the spool 23 forthe purpose of installing a fresh supply roll in the dispenser. Innormal use, the trunnions of the spool engage the bottoms of the slots19, 19 to support the spool and supply roll for rotation relative to theupright members 18, 18.

Near the bottoms of the upright members 18, 18 is a guide means in theform of a transverse rod 28 fixed to and between the latter members inrelatively closely spaced relation to the base 20. As the tape 14 leavesthe supply roll 16 it passes generally downwardly toward the guide rodand is threaded between the latter rod and the base 20 so as to beguided into direct overlying relationship with the surface of the base20 as it passes from the rod to the label stripping means. The base 20in the illustrated dispenser is made of flat sheet material andforwardly of the roll supporting members 18, 18 includes a relativelyextensive fiat area 39 which serves as a means for supporting the tapeand labels for marking of the labels as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, themarking area 36 is of sulilcient length to support several labels at onetime so that if desired several labels may be marked without thenecessity of advancing the tape after marking. The supply roll 16 is, ofcourse, placed in the upright members l8, 18 in such a manner that thelabels face upwardly as they pass over the marking area 3d and enter thestripping means. In the case where the tape is wound with the labelsfacing inwardly on the roll, the roll is placed in the members 18, 18 asshown by the solid lines of FIG. 2 so that the free end of the tapeunwinds-from the rear side of the roll and passes generally downwardlyto the guide bar 28. However, if the tape is wound with the labelsfacing outwardly on the roll the roll is placed in the members 18, 18 asshown by the broken lines of FIG. 2 so that the free end of the tapeunwinds from the forward side of the roll and passes generallydownwardly and rearwardly to the guide bar 28.

Forwardly of the marking area 30 the tape and labels pass through ameans which serves to automatically strip or peel the labels from thetape as the latter is pulled therethrough. In accordance with anotheraspect of the invention, this label stripping means comprises a meansfor guiding the tape in such a manner that it is bent transversely toform a relatively sharp crested transverse wave with the result that asthe tape passes through said stripping means it first passes upwardlyalong one side of the wave, is then bent sharply over the crest of thewave, and then passes downwardly along the other side of the wave. Asthis occurs, a label adhered to the tape passes with the tape along thefirst side of the wave, but due to its inherent stiffness does not bendwith the tape over the crest of the wave and is, instead, disengagedfrom the tape by the tape peeling from the label as it passes over thecrest of the wave. From another viewpoint the action of the strippingmeans is such that the tape is bent or folded along a relatively sharpbend or fold line and at an angle of greater than 90 to itself and tothe surface of the label so that as the tape is advanced through thestripping means the tape and label after passing the bend or fold linetravel in substantially opposite directions to cause peeling of thelabel from the tape.

In order to bend the tape 14- as above described the stripping meanscomprises three transverse tape guide members spaced apart in alongitudinal direction. These members are in turn arranged so that thetape may pass first under the first member, then over the middle member,and then back under the first member with the tape undergoing a sharpbend as it passes over the middle member. These three members may takevarious diiferent forms, but in the illustrated case, they consist ofthree transversely extending arms 32, 34 and 36 of a wire element 38which is bent upon itself, as shown in FIG. 1, to form the three arms.As illustrated, the three arms 32, 34 and 36 are disposed insubstantially the same horizontal plane, although if desired the middlearm 34 may be located somewhat higher than the other two arms in orderto produce a sharper bend or crest in the tape 14. Also as illustrated,the right-hand end of the forward arm 36 and the left-hand end of therearward arm 32 are bent downwardly and secured to the forward end ofthe base 20.

In use, the tape 14 passes under the first or rearward arm 32, then overthe middle arm 34 and then under the forward arm 36 as best shown inFIG. 2. This, as mentioned, produces a sharp crested transverselyextending wave in the tape 14, as also illustrated in FIG. 2. The labels12, 12 adhered to the tape 14 pass with the tape under the arm 32 butinstead of passing with the tape over the middle arm 34are stripped fromthe tape due to the sharp bending of the tape at this point. Thus, asthe tape 14 is pulled slowly through the stripping element 38 4 thelabels 12, 12 will in succession be removed or disengaged from the tape.As each label is so disengaged the user may pick up the same and applyit to the goods to be marked thereby.

The invention claimed is:

l. A tape and label dispenser for use with a roll of tape having aplurality of pressure sensitive labels adhered to one surface thereof inend-to-end relation, said dispenser comprising a longitudinallyextending base member having a fiat upper surface, a pair oftransversely spaced upright members secured to the rear end portion ofsaid base member so as to extend upwardly from said flat upper surfaceand adapted to rotatably support a roll of tape such as aforesaid, saidbase member having such a length as to extend forwardly beyond saidupright members so that the forward part of said upper surface isunobstructed by said upright members, means located at the forward endportion of said base for stripping labels in succession from said tapeas the latter is pulled therethrough, said stripping means comprising alength of wire bent upon itself to form three transverse arms spacedlongitudinally of said base and supported from said base so that saidtape may pass under the first and last of said arms and over the middleof said arms to bend said tape into the form of a sharp crestedtransverse wave, and a guide bar extending transversely between saidupright members and arranged to guide tape from said roll into overlyingrelation with said unobstructed forward part of said flat upper surfaceof said base before it passes through said stripping means.

2. A tape and label dispenser for use with a roll of roll supportingmeans so that the forward part of said 7 upper surface is unobstructedby said latter means, means located at the forward end portion of saidbase forstripping labels in succession from said tape as the latterispulled therethrough, said stripping means comprising three transversearms spaced relative to one another longitudinally of said base memberand spaced substantially equal distances above said fiat upper surfaceso that said tape may pass under the first and last of said arms andover the middle of said arms to bend said tape into the form of a sharpcrested transverse wave, and a guide member at the rear end portion of"said base member extending transversely of said upper surface forguiding tape from said roll into overlying relation with saidunobstructed forward part of said flat upper surface of said base beforeit passes through said stripping means.

3. A tape and label dispenser for use with a roll of tape having aplurality of pressure sensitive labels adheredto one surface thereof inend-to-end relation, said dispenser comprising an elongated memberhaving a flat upper surface, means fixed relative to said member forrotatably supporting a roll of tape such as aforesaid, guide means forguiding tape from said roll to the rear end of said flat surface formovement of said tape longitudinally over said fiat surface from saidrear end of said fiat surface to the forward end thereof, and meanslocated at the forward end of said flat surface for stripping labels insuccession from said tape as the latter is pulled therethrough, saidstripping means comprising three transverse arms spaced relative to oneanother longitudinally of said flat surface and spaced substantiallyequal distances above said. flat surface so that said tape may passunder the first and last of said arms and over the middle of said armsto bend said tape into the form of a sharp crested transverse wave;

(References on following page) References Cited in ihe fi1e of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Weinberger Apr. 9, 191 8 Fiorino Nov. 3,1953 Gass away Feb. 26, 1957 6 Kaspar June 19, 1958 Cole Nov. 10, 1959Cole Apr. 19, 1960 FOREEGN PATENTS France Oct. 1. 19'56

1. A TAPE AND LABEL DISPENSER FOR USE WITH A ROLL OF TAPE HAVING APLURALITY OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABELS ADHERED TO ONE SURFACE THEREOF INEND-TO-END RELATION, SAID DISPENSER COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLYEXTENDING BASE MEMBER HAVING A FLAT UPPER SURFACE, A PAIR OFTRANSVERSELY SPACED UPRIGHT MEMBERS SECURED TO THE REAR END PORTION OFSAID BASE MEMBER SO AS TO EXTEND UPWARDLY FROM SAID FLAT UPPER SURFACEAND ADAPTED TO ROTATBLY SUPPORT A ROLL OF TAPE SUCH AS AFORESAID, SAIDBASE MEMBER HAVING SUCH A LENGTH AS TO EXTEND FORWARDLY BEYOND SAIDUPRIGHT MEMBERS SO THAT THE FORWARD PART OF SAID UPPER SURFACE ISUNOBSTRUCTED BY SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS, MEANS LOCATED AT THE FORWARD ENDPORTION OF SAID BASE FOR STRIPPING LABELS IN SUCCESSION FROM SAID TAPEAS THE LATTER IS PULLED THERETHROUGH, SAID STRIPPING MEANS COMPRISING ALENGTH OF WIRE BENT UPON ITSELF TO FORM THREE TRANSVERSE ARMS SPACEDLONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BASE AND SUPPORTED FROM SAID BASE SO THAT SAIDTAPE MAY PASS UNDER THE FIRST AND LAST OF SAID ARMS AND OVER THE MIDDLEOF SAID ARMS TO BEND SAID TAPE INTO THE FORM OF A SHARP CRESTEDTRANSVERSE WAVE, AND A GUIDE BAR EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEEN SAIDUPRIGHT MEMBERS AND ARRANGED TO GUIDE TAPE FROM SAID ROLL INTO OVERLYINGRELATION WITH SAID UNOBSTRUCTED FORWARD PART OF SAID FLAT UPPER SURFACEOF SAID BASE BEFORE IT PASSES THROUGH SAID STRIPPING MEANS.